NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1955, 31 May 1880, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Young Men’s Ohhistian Association. —Tho services at tho Academy of Musio last evening wore conducted in the usual form, the numbers,being greater than at any previous meeting.' Mr Purdie, president, presided The opening prayer was offered by Mr M, 8 Ridley. The add.ess was delivered by Mr T. 8. Mannoring, of Pernsido who took for his subject the fifth chapter of Ramans, Ist and 2nd verses. The address throughout was earnest and interesting. Over sixty remained for the after prayer meeting. Libebatob Lodgb, No. 1, I.O.G.T.—The usual weekly meeting of tho above order took place in tho Temperance Hall, Gloucester street West, on Thursday evening, tha 27th instant, the Lodge being opened by Bro. Armstrong,, W.0.T., at 7 30. Five new members were initiated. A short recess fed lowed, after which a question was put to the with a view of presenting to Bro. Kent, who is about to leave for tho North Island, a suitable testimonial, as a recognition of his past services to the Good Templar cause. A committee was formed for the purpose of carrying it out. The Lodge then went in for harmony, and was aftt rwards duly closed by Bro. Armstrong, W 0.T., at 9.35. Inquest.— An inquest "was held on Saturday, at the Commercial Hotel, on the body of an infant found drowned in the Avon. After taking the evidence of the person who discovered tho body, that of Dr. Anderson, and the police, the inquest was adjourned until Fi id ay next. S r dsnham Boiiouair Council.—A special meeting of this Council was held on Saturday evening. The business for discussion was the draft Bill, as settled by the joint committees of tho Sydenham and Christchurch Councils, re the South Town belt, and also with reference to the resolutions passed at the recent public meeting respecting the Drainage Board. The draft Bill, as brought up for approval, was passed, after some slight amendments had been made therein. The question of taking legal proceedings to quash the rate levied by the Drainage Board on tho Sydenham district was then discussed. It was resolved to accede to tho request of the meeting that these steps should be taken, provided th't the members of the Council were held harmless as to costa, and also that the advice of Messrs Harper, Harper, and Scott was in favour of the course proposed., The Mayor and Ors Hall and Charters * wore appointed a committee to obtain the advice and taka all necessary stops in the matter. False Economy.—ln a case at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, City Council v. Askew, breach of tho Building By-Law, Mr Joyce commented strongly on the parsimony exhibited by that body in not advertising at length their by-laws in the newt papers. The Sy denham Borough Council —of which by the way Mr Joyce is a member V were held up by him as a pattern in this respect. Mr G) r-ick, who appeared for the prosecution, while holding that the City Council had complied with the strict letter of tl • Act as to publication, said ho quite agreed with Mr Joyce that every caro should be taken in given publicity to the by-laws of any corporate body, and thought that in this case economy was rather a fault than a recommendation of tho wisdom of the Council.

Shipping. —The New Zealand Shipping Company, Limited, has received cable advice from London of the arrival of tho Wanganui, from Port Chalmers, and tho Opawa, from WollingtJjj’. Exchange on Cheques. —The Banks have decider! to place an exchange rate on cheques of 6i per cent., to come in force from June Ist.

Theatre Rovax. —“Onr Boys,” and the variety entertainment of Mr Patsy Gill and Miss Sallie Lloyd, formed the bill at ti e Theatre on Saturday night. A change of programme ia announced for this evening' The City Avditoeships. —The polling •for two auditors for . the city takes place at the City Council Chambers to-morrow. The candidates are Messrs T. B. Craig, H. E. Alport, Bird, Black, W. Jameson, and Forster.

Tattersael’s Club. —A meeting of the committee of the above was held at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday evening, when a final revision of the rules was made, to be in readiness for the general meeting to be held on Saturday next. Confirmation Service. —Yesterday afternoon a confirmation service was held at the Holy Trinity Church at Port, by his Lordship the Bishop. The attendance was large, and the service impressively interesting, fhe number of applicants confirmed was sixteen.

Spouting. —Mr Ray has disposed of his training establishment at Crisis Lodge to Dr. Prins, who has also purchased the team at present working there, and consisting of Maritana, Fishhook, The Governor, Hornby, and Bogarduo. The entrance of Dr. Prins on the turf will be heard of with very great pleasure by sporting men in New Zealand. Mr Ray still remains on in charge of the B ring. Selwyn County Cottncie. —A special meoti g of the Council to confirm the bylaws to regulate slaughterhouses within the pouniy was held on Saturday. Present—Dr. Turnbull (in the chair), Messrs Peryman, McMillan, Wilson and Mathias The bylaws having been brought tip and read were confirmed by the meeting. This being all the business the Council then adjourned, n. The Lingaeds.— Prom a private letter received in Christchurch, wo learn that Mr Lingard and Mies Alice Dunning have formed a email company, including, amongst others, Miss Melrose and Mr Craig, and have started on a tour with “Our Boys,” “ The Vestal,” and the Lingard sketches. At the time of writing they were at Newcastle playing at the Victoria Theatre. It is probable that the L ngirds will re-visit Now Zealand. Rangioea Licensing Court —The public house licensing meeting announced to ba hold on Tuesday stands adjourned till Tuesday, June Bh. This is owing to the absence of Vlr Whitefoord, R.M , chairman of the Commissioners, being at present away on 'official business connected with the establishment of a Resident Magistrate’s Court at, Kaikoura.

Peidb of Stubnham Dodge, I O.Q-.T.— Tho nbove lodge hold its weekly session in St. Saviour’s schoolroom, Sydenham, on Thursday, May 27th. Alter some of the business was over, and two brothers initiated, the lodge was opened for a public meeting. There was a very large attendance, Bro. Henwood, sen., W.0.T., in the chair. After a short address from Bro. Henwood, chairman, some capital songs and recitations were given, which Ve y materially helped to pass a pleasant evening. Bro. Heath gave an able speech on temperance, which was well received. After spending a very pleasant evening, the moating cloned with the National Anthem. PEDKaTEiANISM.—A match was made on Saturday between O. Swan, of Christchurch, and Gr GHeoson, of Timaru, for twenty four hours’ walking, the condition being £'oo a 8 : do. Tho match is most likely to bo walked if in Timaru after Swan’s return from tho Dunedin competition.

Black Peeoeptoet Ii O.L.—The anniversary dinner of tho members of the Black P.-eerpfory chapter was held at Burnip’a Hotel, Kaiapoi, on Friday evening. There was a good attendance. The chair was taken by the R, W.Q-.M. of the Middle Island. Tho usual toasts wore duly honored, and a pleasant evening spent. A Telephone on the Deaohenfel3. —As an experiment, the Gorman Postal and Telegraphic Department is about to open for use during the coming summer a telephone connecting tho top of the Draehenfols with the charming riverside resort of Konigswinter, on tho’Rhine. The wire is laid along tho foot road by way of Hardtborg and Kuckstein to tho refreshment house beneath the ruins. Tho project which was started some time ago of a railway up tho Draehenfols, like that on tho Rigi, is given up for tho present, if not entirely abandoned.

Kaiapoi Wesleyan Ohuech.—A meeting of a deputation from tha trustees ot thu ehureh at d the members of the choir was held on Friday evening to confer in reference to the liquidation of a debt of about £SOO due on the church building account and the organ It was decided that a committee of Messrs R. Oonp, W. Weston, E. Parnham, and R. M. Wright, on behalf of the trustees, and Messrs B'.aokwell, Turner, Thompson, A’Oourt, and a number of ladies be formed to devise a plan to reduce the d<bt.

England and Geemany.— An Anglo-Ger-man or Qsrmano Anglian Society has been formed at Berlin, under the presidency of Prince Hohenlohe-Langeburg, with a view of making England better known in Germany and Germany in England, removing national prejudice?, and preparing an entente cordiale between two nations which have the samp blood and have hitherto never crossed swon ■ or bayonets. There is to b r , as soon as suffi* cient sums have been subscribed, an Englisti reading-room at Berlin, where travellers mar receive information and introductions into German society. We see among the names of the members those of Gneisf, von Hnlzmdorff, Hofmann, Pauli, Waifz, Joachim, W. Siemens, Van Sybel, Van Treitschke, Yon Stockmar, Auerbach, and several Bunsens, all n -mes that have a good ring in England as well as in Germany. IsandlanA.—Mr Eynn, magistrate of Um einga, and Tospeo or G. Mansell, ot the mounted police, in their official report of their recent inspection of the field of Isandlana, that they found that nearly every trace of the conflict had disappeared, and it wee difficult to remember that such a scene of carnage had occurred on that spot. On going over the ground, however, they found tha' in a great many instances the earth had been partly washed away from the graves exposing the bones to view. They recommended that Europeans under proper supervision be sent to re-bury the dead where only covered by earth and stones, by digging deep graves at the sides and shunting the remains and the earth about them into the new graves. The dead were too far apart to be conveyed to one locality The Numbbe of Employes on Pbusbian Railways—The “personnel” employed on Prussian railways is divided into two main classes. The first comprises the officials and servants with fixed positions, and mostly wearing the uniforms of the companies they serve. This class numbered in 1879 as many as 94,000 persons. Tho other class, the laborers, was 85,200 strong, Th*' two classes together thus numbered 179.200 persons. This is independent of the navvies and others employed by the contractors in building new lines and extensions. The number of persons employed in working the railways of Great Britain and Ireland, independently of those engaged on the construction of new lines, is about 300,000.

A Grim Discovery. —A startling surprise, after the fashion of the story of Ginevra, was experienced some days ago by a party of Styrian wood cutters in the forest of Drommling. They began to fell a venerable oak, which they soon discovered to be quite hollow. Being half decayed it speedily came to the ground with a crash, disclosing a skeleton in excellent preservation. Even the boots, which came above the knee, were almost perfect. By its side was a powderhorn, a porcelain pipe-bow], and a silver watch, on which was engraved the name “ H. von Krackowitz, 1812.” The teeth were perfect. It would seem to be the skeleton of a man between thirty and forty years of age. It is conjectured that, while engaged in hunting, he climbed the tree for some purpose, and slipped incautiously into the hollow trunk, from which there was no release, and he probably died of starvation.

Mortality and Suicide in the German Army. Exclusive of the whole of the Bavarian troops, the German army lost by death in the month of January last. 130 men. That there is something still wanting in the condition of the German service to make it tolerable to many of the ronk and file appears to be indicated by the fact that no fewer than twenty-twomen and officers committed suicide in the course of the single month in question. Of the 130 deaths, therefore, only 108 are referable to causes other than suicide. Taking a Census. —Tho latest swindle in America is styled “census-taking.” A gentle manly fellow drives up with blanks for statistics on the farm—bushels of wheat, number of cattle raised, acres under cultivation, Between the tables and the foot of the page, where the farmer signs his name attesting the statement, is a blank space, whose existence is accounted for as affording room for miscellaneous information In a month more the farmer receives notice from a neighbouring bank that his note for 150 dollars is due. He knows nothing of the note, but investigation shows that the “census taker ’’has filled in tho blank with a promise to pay, which, being now in the hands of an innocent holder, must be paid by the unlucky dupe.

Magnets and Wire Binders. —The introduction of magnets into the great grain mills of the West in the United States has, it is stated, fulfilled the highest expectations of those who complained of wire in wheat. Not only have the magnets captured all the stray pieces of iron bands, and thus removed the last and only objection urged against wire banding harvesters, but they have revealed the singular fact that of the scraps of iron and steel which find their way to the mills mixed with wheat, fully one-half are something be sides pieces of wire, and a larger portion of these are of such a nature as to be even more dangerous to mill machinery. The magnets gather everything of the kind with unerring certainty, thus rendering perfectly safe the use of self-binding harvesters and wire bands. Mit.ttary Bttt.lies —An account is given of an affray in Prussia which shows that the old brucai spirit of Jnnkerdom has lost little or nothing ot us ferocity ol late years. No Englishman who has travelled in Germany can fail to have been struck with the insolent bearing of Prussian officers towards their countrymen and on what slight pretexfs they have recourse to violence. The honor of the German army seems to demand that its officers should never bohayo properly except to one another. Such a story, however, as that from Georgenburg recalls the murder of the unfortunate cook at Bonn. It seems that, a party of Gorman officers took offence because their salute was not returned by the civilians in an inn which they entered. Thereupon one of the former drew his sabre and ran one of the refractory civilians through the body, by way of giving him a lesson in good manners.

Unaemoebd Corvettes. —It is satisfactory to hear (remarks an English paper) that the Oomus, the first of the so-called “ O ” class of unarmored corvettes commissioned for service on a foreign station, has proved herself during her passage to the Cape, touching at Ascension and Tristan d’Aounha, to be an excellent sailer. Of these vessels, six—namely, the Coinus, Constance, Champion, Carysfort, Conquest, and Curagoa—have been already completed, while two more, the Canada and Cordelia, are now being built. Facilities for keeping the sea for long periods have not been sacrificed for the sake of high speed, but at the same time they are provided with sufficiently powerful engines to drive them at a very fair speed through the water. Their engines, namely, work up to 2300 indicated horse-power; while the engines of such old corvettes as the Challenger, which has almost exactly the same displacement as the Oomus, can only develop 1261 horse-power. Of moderate size—their displacement is 2385 tons —armed with two 7in. guns, which throw a projectile with a velochy sufficient to penetrate eight inches of armor; of great structural strength ; with an armoured deck three feet below the water-line, and fitted with a ram and arrangements for discharging Whitehead torpedoes below the surface of the water, it was universally admitted that the new vessels would be an exceedingly serviceable class of ships for service on foreign stations, provided they proved to bo good sailers. That this is the case may bo taken to have been demonstrated by actual experience.

Milbouknb Exhibition.—lntending exhibitors are reminded that applications for space must be made to the secretary of the local committee not later than to-day. bmotal of Bank.—The budcc of the Colonial Bank will be conducted in their n w premises, Hereford street, next the Union Bank, on and after this day. Waterloo Cur.—Coursing men are reminded that nominations, with £l2 10a, must be in the hands of the secretary of the Canterbury Coursing Club by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June Ist.

Union Rowing Club —A special general meeting of the member- of this club will be held at eight o’clock to-morrow evening, at tha Commercial Hotel, for the presentation of prizes wen during the last season. Nbw Music.—have received from tic publishers, Messrs G. B. West and Co.. Dunedin, a copy of Mr H. Gordon Gooch’s f ivorlto song, “ Swing on Old Pendulum.” The lithographic work has been tastefnlly executed by tho “ Otago Daily Times ” Company.

Philosophical Instituts. —An ordinary meeting of the above will be held at the room of the institute on Thursday, Jane 3rd, at 8 pm., when papers will be lead by Profesasr Hutton, “On the Orthoptera of New Zealand j” by Professor Bickerton, on “ Cosmical and Partial Impactand by Hr W. M. Haskell, on “ Meteorological Stations.” Masonic. — a grand ball, under the management of an influential committee, will take place at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Christchurch, in aid of the scholarship endowment fund, on Thursday, June 24th. The Ashley Lodge, E.C., will celebrate their anniversary by a ball in the I iterary Institute, Hangiora, on Thursday, June 10th.